US Congress (D-CA); U.S. Democratic Representative
Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff represents California's 28th District. He serves as the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee and as a member of the House Select Committee on Benghazi.
James Comey tells his side of the story In more than two hours of testimony before a Senate committee today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? What was the role of Attorney General Jeff Sessions? What impact will Comey’s dramatic appearance have on the probe of Russia’s ongoing interference with US elections… and how to stop it?
California lawmakers respond to firing of FBI Director Comey The day after FBI Director James Comey was fired, Washington is in an uproar. Is this a constitutional crisis? Will there be a special prosecutor named? How will the FBI investigation proceed? We hear from California Senator Kamala Harris, California Congressman and ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff, and others.
Neutra's Silver Lake house named a national historic landmark A corner of the Neutra VDL Studio and Residences in Silver Lake Photo by David Hartwell Pioneering architect Richard Neutra's VDL Studio and Residences in Silver Lake have been added to the list of national historic landmarks. This past Sunday a crowd of supporters gathered at the house for a celebration. The home's owner, Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, shepherded the application. It got help in DC from Los Angeles Congressman Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. He takes time out from investigating the Trump-Russia connection to talk about the pleasures of architecture and the importance of art in challenging times.
Rep. Adam Schiff shares latest revelations in the Russia investigation Two White House officials have been identified as sharing confidential intelligence with California Congressman Devin Nunes, chair of the House Intelligence Committee. The committee’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election is on hold for now. California’s Adam Schiff is the top Democrat on the committee, and he tells us what’s next for the investigation. Congressman Adam Schiff is a top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee (Photo courtesy of the Office of Rep. Schiff)
Can America's top law enforcement officer investigate himself? Attorney General Jeff Sessions is accused of "misleading" fellow Senators during his confirmation hearing — and possibly lying in response to written questions. It's all about whether he met with Russia's ambassador as a surrogate for candidate Donald Trump and an advisor to his presidential campaign. Democrats and even some Republicans want him to recuse himself from overseeing an FBI investigation -- if one is going on. Others want him to resign. Note: After our discussion aired, Sessions issued a statement on recusal .
Democrats demand investigation into Trump's ties with Russia President Trump has effectively fired his National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, who tendered his resignation last night. Today, Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters, "We got to a point not based on a legal issue but based on a trust issue -- where the level of trust between the President and General Flynn had eroded where he felt he had to make a change." Several Republican Senators have called for investigation. Democrat Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, agrees.
Could Russia cause chaos on Election Day? In politics, the worst fear is that voting results can be manipulated by outside sources. Could Russian hackers play a role in November's elections? The answer is "Yes." Photo by kafka4prez "If it's a computer, it can be hacked." That's according to Richard Clarke , who was cyber-security policy advisor to Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama. Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff from Los Angeles is ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee. He has more on what's possible — and what's not — on Election Day in November.
Will the Body Count in Orlando Make a Difference on Capitol Hill? The massacre of 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary failed to generate the political will for some form of gun regulation in 2012. Now 49 people have been gunned down at a gay club in Orlando – in the worst mass shooting in American history, and Democrats are feuding with Republicans again in the House and the Senate. The latest proposals involve the "gun-show loophole" and the no-fly list. Are the prospects for action better now than they were four years ago? The country already has more guns than people, and the NRA is especially powerful in an election year.
The FBI Wants Apple to Cast Light on 'The Dark Web' The dispute pitting law enforcement against cyber security is dividing members of Congress — and veterans of US intelligence. FBI Director James Comey went to Capitol Hill this week to explain his demand that Apple provide a so-called "back door" to the iPhone of the San Bernardino terrorist Sayed Farook. One surprising opponent is retired General Michael Hayden, who led the CIA and directed the National Security Agency's wiretaps without warrants. He's now a security consultant in the private sector, and he's siding with Silicon Valley against the FBI. We also hear why so-called "back doors" to encryption are not just an issue of an individual's right to privacy but a real danger to American security.
All LAUSD Schools Closed Due to Terror Threat Almost 700,000 students in America's second largest school district were told to stay home today -- when almost 1000 schools were closed because of a terrorist threat deemed "credible" by Superintendent Ramon Cortines.
Terrorism: Diplomacy and Politics In the aftermath of the attacks on Paris, France wants a "grand and single coalition" against ISIS — including the US and Russia. That may be easier said than done . Prime Minister Cameron has agreed to join in conducting airstrikes against ISIS if Parliament approves; and President Putin was in Tehran for talks with Iran's Supreme Leader, who tweeted continued support for Syrian President al-Assad. But President Obama, despite facing increased calls for greater involvement, says he will only be willing if Russia abandons Syria's Assad regime. Meantime, intelligence agencies say the real threat to America is not from overseas, but from home-grown sympathizers -- especially as anti-Islamic rhetoric increases. Will US politics and diplomacy matter if Muslim countries don't lead the charge against ISIS on their own?
Netanyahu’s Victory and About-Face Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has locked up reelection, after a campaign that included rejecting a Palestinian state and a speech before U.S. Congress criticizing the nuclear deal the White House was pursuing with Iran. Neither was welcome news to the Obama administration. The President was not consulted about the speech. Obama also supports a two-state solution in the Middle East. So what does Netanyahu’s re-election mean for an already-tense relationship with the White House?
Mistrust between the US and Israel Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is running for re-election — at the same time jumping with both feet into American politics. First, he agreed to address the President's nuclear talks with Iran before a joint session of Congress — without telling the White House. The Obama Administration now suspects him of leaking what it calls "misleading" details about the talks with Iran, creating more mistrust. Vice President Biden and other Democrats — including some Jews — will stay away from the speech. Will Israel gain or lose with the American public?
Has Obama's War on Terror Lost a Key Ally? Since the attempted underwear bombing of 2009, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has not been accused of trying to attack the United States. But its operatives in Yemen have increased from hundreds to thousands — and they claim responsibility for the massacre at Charlie Hebdo. Yesterday, the US conducted its first drone attack of the year against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Are President Obama's drone strikes keeping America safe? He admits his strategy is "not neat and not simple," but he calls it "the best option we have." After last week's collapse of a sympathetic Yemini government, is that still true?
Funding for Earthquake Early Warning System Part of the $1.1 trillion in federal spending approved by Congress is $5 million for an earthquake warning system in California. Democrat Adam Schiffrepresents Burbank and Glendale in a district that includes the Jet Propulsion Lab in La Cañada-Flintridge.
Airstrikes Just the Beginning of a Long Campaign President Obama says the participation of five Arab states in last night’s attacks in Iraq “shows the world that this is not America’s fight alone.” The President did not ask Congress for authority to strike targets in Syria. Instead, he relied on intelligence claims that the US was facing an attack on the homeland. Tomorrow, he’ll chair a meeting of the UN Security Council and make the case for a broader coalition.
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.